Review of Article: What is a Balanced Diet? Here's Your Sign!

What Is a Balanced Diet? Here’s Your Sign!

Everyone knows that you and your kids are supposed to be eating a “healthy balanced diet”. That’s great, but “What Is A Balanced Diet?”
How exactly is a healthy balanced diet different from what most people
eat? While you ultimately have to decide what the best nutrition is for
you based on your lifestyle, goals, and choices, but there are several
things that hold true.
A healthy balanced diet
is filled with as many “real foods” as possible. That means foods that
haven’t been filled with chemicals, including artificial colors and
flavorings. If it comes in a box, no matter how “all natural” it is,
you’re probably better off not buying it.

What Is a Balanced Diet? Here’s Your Sign!

Choosing the path of a healthy balanced diet is a lifestyle change,
and can take some practice. Here are some great suggestions to get you
started on your path to a healthy balanced diet.
A good way to start is to slowly eliminate packaged food to foods and
meals that you create. There are a number of recipes available that
will allow you to make your own foods and meals that only take few
minutes up front. Another idea to keep in mind is “mason jar” recipes.
These recipes allow you to prepare your meals ahead for maximum
convenience while still staying on your healthy balanced diet. These
recipes include salads, oatmeal’s, and more. There are plenty of other
options that will allow you to put together your favorite foods once and
enjoy them for up to a week without any further effort.Never deprive yourself of any food group. This
doesn’t mean that you should be chowing down on unhealthy snacks and
high-fat foods. It does mean that you shouldn’t limit yourself to
fruits, vegetables, and lean meats all the time, either. It is okay to
have a splurge item every once in a while. Rule of thumb eat balanced
90% of the time and you will be on the right track. Focus on eating a
wide variety of foods so your body gets all of the nutrients it needs
and that you are not depriving yourself of something that you really
need in order to function at your optimal level.Foods that you should be limiting are refined grains and added sugar.
Added sugar, in particular, can be hard to catch! Many foods that you
buy prepackaged or at restaurants contain added sugar content to help
them taste better or to cover up the taste of other additives, which is
one of the reasons why it’s often better to cook your own when possible.
Refined grains process through your body very quickly and are turned
into sugar. Whole grains, on the other hand, will keep the nutritional
content of the wheat intact.Eat the rainbow. No, not that popular candy that
comes complete with a week’s supply of sugar and enough artificial
colors to take you to the moon and back. Rather, eat a “rainbow” of
fruits and vegetables. Different colors tend to indicate that the fruits
or vegetables have similar nutrients in them. That means that you
should fill your plate with all sorts of different tones. Not only is it
pretty (which, according to research, will make you enjoy eating it
even more), it also contains a variety of different nutrients.Control your portion sizes. A good rule of thumb is
to start by dividing the portion you would normally eat in half. To help
control your portions, pay attention when you’re eating. Don’t plop
down in front of your television or computer screen; instead,
concentrate on the process of eating. Enjoy the flavor and texture of
your foods instead of mindlessly shoveling your meal down before going
back for more. Also, use this old trick: use a smaller plate to help
your portions seem larger.Try not to drink your calories with soda and other similar drinks.
You often don’t realize how many calories there really are in your
favorite coffee drink or that soda that you drink by the bottle, but it
can pack on the pounds fast. When possible, drink water–and lots of it!
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your
body. The only caloric drink that would be highly recommended is a
total nutrition shake. These can be used for a healthy snack or meal
replacement when used with a recipe.
Implement these suggestions and you will be on your way to creating a healthy balanced diet that fits your lifestyle.